Póg Mo Goal has captured the heads and hearts of Irish people far and wide.
The online publication that has moved into print media in the form of a brand-new magazine recently, looks at the history of Irish football and how there are links between the Emerald Isle and teams across the world.
Carew, who set up the business with his brother over ten years ago, spoke to KCLR’s Sunday Scoreline about how it came to be.
“Myself and my brother started as a website ten years ago when blogging and football blogging was a big thing but there wasn’t much about Irish football.
“We’ve moved into print now and people seem to like it because we are publishing our sixth edition,” said Carew.
Pick up issue 6 of Ireland’s only football magazine in Easons and Tuthills newsagents across the country. pic.twitter.com/AVeHvcjTTP
— Póg Mo Goal (@pogmogoal) March 28, 2021
The Kilkenny man spoke about the decision to move into print media when many feel that it is a dying form of news and entertainment platform.
“Our intention is that our magazine looks as good as the content is. That is why it’s great to have my brother working with me because he has a graphic design background. We feel that the quality is there for people to have a look at it.”
He explained the main intention of Póg Mo Goal and how it is different from other magazines and sites that produce similar content.
“We wanted to give Irish football the same billing that any other nation gets.
“For example, the League of Ireland is 100 years old today. There has been a lot of detractors of it, and they said that it needs to go but it’s still here and seems to be on the rise, so those stories deserve to be told and need to be told.”
A student of European football having covered the Bundesliga and other continental leagues in the past, Carew, who now lives in London, gave a thoughtful insight into how Brexit may help young Irish players in the long term.
“I think Brexit will open the door for young Irish players to move to Europe because they won’t be able to get to England.”
This article seems even more relevant now
Can Ireland really host a World Cup when proper investment in football has been so lacking? asks @Cr_Banks https://t.co/d1OBiUbikR pic.twitter.com/U423xy9t7D
— Póg Mo Goal (@pogmogoal) March 29, 2021
“I think it will only bring on their game because it would only benefit our kids to go and experience a different style of football on the continent.
“Our players can only improve if they are given exposure to a different type of football because as we have seen for a while now, maybe it’s not too great that our players are playing in the Championship.”
Listen to the interview below on Scoreline Extra:
